Shimla: The CPM has asked the state government to immediately reverse its decision of forming Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited for water supply.
CPM leader and former mayor of Shimla MC Sanjay Chauhan accused the BJP led state government for privatizing water supply which Chauhan believed will put financial burden on hoi polloi. Chauhan demanded to reverse the decision in public interest.
CPM leader Sanjay Chauhan said the state Cabinet had given its nod to create a separate Shimla Jal Nigam to avail the Rs 770 crore World Bank loan for overseeing the water supply and sewerage system in the city and its peripheries. Since the government had already created the Greater Shimla water supply and the sewerage circle in 2015, there was no need to create a nigam, he claimed.
Chauhan said the BJP government had taken the decision to handover the water supply in private hands.
Sanjay Chauhan claimed that in 2012 the then Dhumal led state government had chalk out plan to hand over the water supply of the Shimla city to a private company. And as per conditions mentioned in the tender water cess was to increase and also some of staff was also to be released from their services, which was opposed by the CPM, he further claimed.
Opposing the state government move of forming Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited, CPM leader stated that as per 74th amendment in constitution MC is responsible to provide basic amenities like water supply and cleanliness, and threaten to launch agitation if decision wasn’t reversed.
The state government, in its latest Cabinet Meeting, accorded approval for Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited for water supply and wastewater management in Greater Shimla Planning Area and other places including raw water off take treatment and distribution of potable water and recycled non potable water, wastewater collection, treatment, reuse, recycling and disposal. The estimated project cost is Rs. 770 crore and will be implemented with financial assistance from the World Bank.
